Interlock device for rail-car-control systems



May 25 1926. -1,585,723

v 1.. c. JOSEPHS, JR

INTERLOCK DEVICE FOR RAIL CAR CONTROL SYSTEMS Filed Jan. 14, 1925Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITE STTES PATENT OFFICE.

LYMAN C. JOSEPHS, JR., 0]? ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNA-TION'AL MOTOR- COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

INTERLOCK DEVICE FOR RAIL-CAR-OONTROL SYSTEMS.

Application filed January 14, 1925. Serial No. 2,439.

This invention is concerned particularly with suitable interlock devicesfor the control elements on a rail car propelled by an internalcombustion engine. The conditions of operation surrounding such railcars and the interlock to be effected are peculiar to the presence of acontrolling device for the speed of the internal combustion engine, a

controlling device for the transmission clutch and brakes and areversing device for establishing proper conditions for operation of thelast named controller depending upon the direction of travel of the car.W hen the operator of such a car leaves his post it is desirable thatthe reversing mechanism, as well as the control for the transmissionetc, should be interlocked in off position'so that they may not be movedsurreptitiously and in some cases it is desirable in addition tointerlock therewith the speed control for the engine while permitting itto idle. On the other hand, there are conditions where with the reverseand the transmission control interlocked it is desirable to leave thespeed control for the engine free so that it may be operated atdifferent speeds without hindrance at times while the operator is awayfrom his station. This last named condition arises, for instance, whenthe operator needs to test the motor and per haps inspect it while underthe car or in some other dangerous position.

In accordance with the present invention it is proposed to provide aninterlock means which shall be of simple and positive nature andoperable automatically when the parts are in predetermined relation tohold the reverse control and the transmission control againstsurreptitious movement when the operator leaves them. A further objectof the invention is to provide a supplemental interlock releasableautomatically with the first named interlock device for holding theengine speed control means against movement when the engine is set foridling while permitting free manipulation fiiereof at all other enginespeeds. These and other obects of the invention will appear more clearlyhereinafter in connection with the detailed description illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in elevation showing somewhatconventionally suitable control means for a rail car which is propelledby an internal combustion engine with the improved interlock operativelyassociated therewith.

Figure 2- is a View in horizontal section through the parts shown inFigure l with the throttle control interlocked for idling of the engine.

Figure 3 is a detailed view in plan of the interlock bar and showing insection the relation thereto of the pivoted interlock for the throttle.

By way of illustration, but not limitation, there is shown in thedrawings in eleva tion suitable mechanism for operating a self-propelledrail car the drum a at the right in Figure 1 being of such a nature asto permit the operator to, effect necessary operations such as throwinga clutch, shifting gears or other change speed media and the like, thedrum 6 at the left being of such anature as to permit the operator tocheck conditions in such control devices upon reversal of direction oftravel and the shaft 0 being, for instance, a controlling shaft forspeed of the prime mover, such as, for in stance, the throttle valve ofan internal combustion engine. The principal object of the presentinvention is to bring the mechanism just referred to briefly in suchrelation as to permit desirable conditions of safety to be establishedconveniently by the operator as, for instance, when he leaves his post.These conditions are conceived to be generally as follows:

With the reverse control I) in 01? position the controlling mechanism ashould be automatically locked against surreptitious movement; with theaforementioned mechanism in such interlocked relationship the speedcontrol 0 for the prime mover should be either (a) interlocked therewithwith the prime mover idling at predetermined speed or (b) manipulablefreely at all speeds above such predetermined speeds so that the primemover might be freely controlled while locomotion of the vehicle ispositively guarded against by interlock of the elements at and b. a

The desirable relationship described is accomplished simply andpositively in the preferred embodiment of the present invention by meansof a lever d pivoted at (Z and having at one end a nose d to engage arecess a formed in a plate a movable with 2 reserves the drum (4 and atthe other end an antitriction member d" adapted to roll on the bottom ofa plate Z) movable with the reverse mechanism Z). The plate Z) has recesses b in its undertlace which the roller (Z may enter, these recessesbeing brought into alignment with the roller when the reverser is eith rset for operation of the vehicle in one direction or the other. Asuitable spring 6 co-operates with the lever d to force the roller 4 itoone or the other of the recesses 7) thereby withdrawing the other detentend (Z from the recess 0; in the plate a When the reverser is in anyother than operating position. the under surface of the plate Z) forcesthe end of the lever (Z downwardly a'fainst the action of the spring cand maintains the end (Z within the recess a pro- *ided the controllerdrum 0: is in oil position. In this way, the controller a is heldagainst surreptitious movement when the reverse mechanism is also in offposition. The reverser, as usual, may have at its upper end a squaredshaft 6 with which the operator engages a specially l Oll'l'ltlcontrollcr handle intended to be carried with him whenever he leaves hispost.

Under some circumstances it is desirable to lock the prime mover, suchas an internal combustion engine, against surreptitious manipulation andaccordingly in the improved construction a detent f is pivoted on thepin (5 and pressed yieldingly by a suitable spring such as 9 towards aslotted collar 0 carried on the shaft 0, the slot 0 in said collar beingbrought opposite to the detent f when the engine is in desired idlingcondition. The spring 9 at such a time forces the detent 7 into the slot0 and the shaft 0 is held against moven'ient. Under other conditions,however, it may be desirable to make it possible for the operator to runthe prime mover at ditl'erent speeds even though the control mechanism ais interlocked with the reverser Z) so as to hold the vehicle againstlocomotion. The construction illust xted PGliIlllZS this condition inthat so long as the engine is operated at a speed above thepredetermined idling speed the slot 0 will not be carried into alignmentwith the detent f and the nose of the detent will be pressed yieldinglyagainst the surface of the collar 0 without interfering with oscillationof the shaft 0. A convenient and automatic release of the detent when inengagement with the slot 0 is provided through an adjustable set screw fcarried with the pivoted dctent f and engageable at its lower end withthe interlocked lever (Z whereby when the reverser 5 moved into one orthe other of its operating positions and the spring 6 becomes effectiveto lock the lever (Z and vithdraw the nose (Z from engagement with theplate a on the drum (.5, the lever 7" will simultaneously be rocked in aclockwise direction against the action of the spring (Z to withdraw itsnose from engagement with the collar 0". The conditions altorded meet,it is believer, those necessary under practical road conditions,particularly for rail cars propelled by internal combustion engines. Forinstance, if the attendant desires to inspect the motor he may want tointerlock the controls so that the car may not be surreptitiouslystarted while he is away "from his post and, perhaps, under the engine.At the same tune, he may want to run the lie dili'erent speeds by directnianipurticn oi its throttle valve. This will not he interfered with bythe interlock tor the throttle operating shaft 0. Under other conditionswhen leaving his post he may desire to interlock the throttle shaft 0with the other mechanism while leaving the motor idling. At such a time,he will take with him his operating lever for the revcrser Z).

lit to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to theparticular nature of the controls provided nor the details ofconstruction of the interlock elemen-ts so long as the generalconditions provided for are obtained by mechanically equivalent means.

l t hat I claim is:

1. in a vehicle provided with control mechanisn'i for regulating thespeed ot' the prime mover, control mechanism for corn trolling thevehicle speed independently of the speed of the prime mover, andreverser mechanism changing the conditions of control depending upon thedirection of travel of the vehicle, interlock means operableautomatically to secure the controlling mech anism against surreptitiousoperation when the reverse mechanism is in oil? position, means operableautomatically when the prime mover is in idling position and thercverser is in off position to lock the speed controlling means for theprime mover.

In a vehicle provided with control mechanism for regulating the speed 01the prime mover, control mechanism for controlling the vehicle speedindependently oi the speed of the prim mover, reverser mechanismchanging the conditions of control depending upon the direction oftravel oi? the vehicle, interlock means operable automatically to securethe controlling mechanism. against surreptitious operation when thereverse mechanism is in oil position, means operable automatically whenthe prime mover is in idling position and the reverser is in oilposition to lock the speed controlling means for the prime mover, andmeans co-operating with said last named means to permit free operationout the speed control devices above predetermined idling speeds when thereverser is in oil position.

3. in a rail car propelled by an internal comlaistion engine, a throttlecontrol for the engine, a change speed control for the vehicle, and areverser, interlock mechanism between the reverser and the change speedmechanism including a lever engageable with the change speed mechanismwhen the latter is in off position and the reverser is in off positionand means operated by said interlock mechanism to lock the throttle control means including means to prevent operation of the throttle lockingmeans over a desired range of movement of the control.

4. In a rail car propelled by an internal combustion engine, a throttlecontrol for the engine, a change speed control for the vehicle, and areverser, interlock mechanism between the reverser and the change speedmechanism including a lever engageable with the change speed mechanismwhen the latter is in off position and the reverser is in off position,means including a springpressed lever having one end operatively engagedwith the reverser and the other end operatively engaged with the speedcontrol mechanism, a spring-pressed detent pivoted with said interlocklever and adapted to engage the throttle control means when the engineis idling and the reverscr is in off position.

5. In a rail car propelled by an internal combustion engine, a throttlecontrol for the engine, a change speed control for the vehicle, and areverser, interlock mechanism between the reverser and the change speedmechanism including a lever engageable with the change speed mechanismwhen the latter is in ofl? position and the reverser is in off position,means including a spring pressed lever having one end operativelyengaged with the reverser and the other end operatively engaged with thespeed control mechanism, a spring-pressed detent pivoted with saidinterlock lever and adapted to engage the throttle control means whenthe engine is idling and the reverser is in off position, and means tohold said detent out of engagement with said throttle control means whenthe engine is operated at all speeds above idling.

This specification signed this 8th, day of January A. D. 1925.

LYMAN c. JOSEPHS, JR.

